This summer there was a story in the news about an American dentist who hunted and killed a famous male lion in Zimbabwe. The lion, known as Cecil, was well known amongst wildlife tourists on the national park where he had lived. Reports of the killing by dentist Walter Palmer from Minnesota spread rapidly across news channels and social media and the hunter soon became the hunted. While the killing of wild animals for sport is clearly barbaric there are other sides to this story that are worth consideration.
What is the difference between the killing of this lion and the daily killing of wild animals on big game hunts? It is believed that 600 lions are killed every year for sport - so why have we focused on this one example?
Many believe humans have dominion over all other animals on the earth and so hunting them for sport is fair game in the same way that animal testing and mass farming are. Do we have the right to treat animals in whatever way pleases us?
Is the vilification of the dentist on social media justified? How far should his public shaming go? What are the dangers of being shamed in public? What has happened to Walter Palmer since this story broke?
What is the difference between the killing of this lion and the daily killing of wild animals on big game hunts? It is believed that 600 lions are killed every year for sport - so why have we focused on this one example?
Many believe humans have dominion over all other animals on the earth and so hunting them for sport is fair game in the same way that animal testing and mass farming are. Do we have the right to treat animals in whatever way pleases us?
Is the vilification of the dentist on social media justified? How far should his public shaming go? What are the dangers of being shamed in public? What has happened to Walter Palmer since this story broke?